Turning 25 - did I complete my 25 before 25 bucket list?

At 22, having just moved to a town where I knew no one and had no job, I felt a little ~lost~ to say the least. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do or who I wanted to be and I was at a bit of a crossroads where I really needed to get sorted, find somewhere to work and start living my proper *adult* life.

2019 goals and a recap of 2018

2018 has been the quickest year of my life, but also one of the best. I've not spent the whole year in a whirlwind of OH MY GOD LIVING MY BEST LIFE, but as I look back over the year, nothing truly traumatic has happened, and I've really conquered some big challenges, so this is a big win of a year.

Summer bucket list

Summer is not a time where I shine. I'm sweaty, grumpy and honestly it ruins the main joy in my life: sleep. But, I'm working on embracing things, even if they bring me discomfort, so whilst I'm waiting around for the season of chunky knits and cosy nights in to rock around, here's a few things I want to get done this summer:

Mid-year(ish) 2018 goals update: where am I now?

2018 has been the speediest year of my life, but also one of, if not the absolute, best. I'm working in a job I love, I've got a strong support network around me and I've even managed to keep a plant alive for a whole month. Everything's comin' up Milhouse.

Turning 24, getting promoted, and some June favourites

June was a pretty epic month if I'm honest, and I can't imagine having ended the first half of 2018 in a better way. The month got kickstarted with having my dad's family over for a birthday barbecue in the new house. It's the first time I've hosted something like this, and it was hella stressful but also made for some incredible memories.

25 things I want to do before turning 25: Two years on

Our priorities change as we age, but a couple of years ago I wrote down a big list of 25 things I really wanted to do before I hit the age of 25. After celebrating my 24th birthday almost a fortnight ago, the pressure's now on in this last year to get up to scratch and find my way through this big ol' list.

Five year goals

It's hella scary to think that in five years' time I'll be 28 because that is officially well into ~adulthood~ and I'm meant to have my life in order by then (but then again, 18-year-old me probably thought that the same would be true for now). Earlier this week I wrote a really personal post all about my fears for the future, and whilst it's so important to acknowledge that we're all a bit scared about what the future might include, I think it's important to remember that it's exciting too.

Why I won't be dieting in 2018

For as long as I can remember, there's been a pressure to make a New Year's Resolution that's weight focused. Last year mine was to get back into a size 12 (we can all take a guess at whether that happened), but in the past I've promised to do more exercise, join a gym, cut out chocolate, cut out junk food, cut out biscuits, go swimming, etc etc. And it's all been with the main intention of getting back to that weight that I always have in mind as my 'ideal weight' (which when I hit back in my first year of uni obviously soon became 'too big' in a vicious cycle of needing to get slimmer). 

2018 goals and a look back over 2017

I absolutely adore reading everyone's posts on what they're hoping to achieve in the next year, and I love writing my own too. This is honestly one of my favourite posts to write each year, and it's so helpful in reminding me of where I want to be heading, what I want to work on and so on. 

My 2017 New Years Resolutions: a six month update

I'm big into New Years Resolutions. I love the New Year. It's a time to think about everything you've accomplished in the past year (almost always more than you thought you had), and to think about where you'd like to be in one year's time. This year I've decided to do a lil six month reset, and consider what I'm doing well with, and what I really want to work on. Back in January, I wrote this post on what I wanted to achieve in 2017, so it's time to take a peek at how things are going.

25 things I want to do before turning 25: one year on

Around this time last year, I wrote down 25 things I wanted to do over the coming three years, as I turned 22. I'd just moved out of my last student home, and it really felt like the beginning of adulthood. I've had some of the goals in the back of my mind over the last year; some I've been actively working towards, some have just slotted into place, and quite honestly, some are things that I'm not sure I class as any kind of priority any more. 
One year on, I've decided to look back to remind myself of all the things I've achieved, and what I want to be working towards over the next couple of years. Here's what's changed:

2016 highlights and what I'm looking forward to in 2017

I know we've all probably seen enough 2016/2017 blog posts to last us a decade, but I'm in love with them. I've read so many recently, and everyone has something different to say. It's also so nice to see people making goals, achieving things they're proud of, and feeling inspired for the new year. I also know that I've written a few of these New Year style posts already, but I just can't (and won't) stop. 
I've had a pretty rubbish start to 2017 if I'm honest. I was working New Year's Eve and New Year's Day and I've been struck down with a pretty bad bout of poor mental health. I've been struggling to do even the simplest of tasks, like showering, or cooking myself dinner. This has been extra hard as I see everyone getting to grips with their New Year's resolutions and starting 2017 off with a bang, whilst I'm left trailing behind.
So, to perk me up and remind me that this relapse in how bad my anxiety/depression is won't stay forever, I thought I'd look back on all the fab things the past year has held for me. 
2016 started off pretty well. I spent the first week in January skiing for the first time. This was both terrifying and exhilarating, and I pushed myself further out of my comfort zone than I ever have done in my life. Looking back now, it seems almost surreal that I managed it. Skiing in the snowy mountains of the Alps with my boyfriend; sipping on ciders to warm our bellies up between runs; trying out a whole truckload of new foods. Now when I look back on it I can see how dreamy this holiday was, but at the time I was living in fear every moment for the next challenge. Having said that, I 100% would go back again.
After this I had six months off of work due to my poor mental health. I won't lie, it was a rubbish six months. I had no motivation, no money and quite simply no happiness. Moving out of a rubbish student house in June helped so much. I finally managed to get myself back into a state in which I could start a part-time job again. This still feels like such a massive achievement for me, especially as I've stuck at it and I'm still there now. 
I moved in to a new home with my boyfriend. Although we've lived together for the past four years or so, it's always been with other people too. This was our first opportunity to really have a place to ourselves and I love it. Being in my own space, with furniture and decor that we chose ourselves has done wonders for my mental health. Plus, it meant that I got to host Christmas for the first time, which was absolutely exhausting but so, so worth it. 
So, how can 2017 top 2016? Well, for starters I have a job still. It's not the second week of January yet, but I'm fighting my horrible moods to keep going in for all my shifts. There's also something really damn exciting happening that I have kept quiet from you all until now. I may have given some hints in the pictures for this post, but guys I AM GOING TO FUCKING DISNEYWORLD. Yep, in April I'll be heading off to Florida with an assortment of family members and my boyfriend to spend a good two weeks exploring this state. If you've got any suggestions other than the obvious then please please hit me up with them. We'll be staying in my uncle's house in Davenport and I just cannot wait. 
Up until April I'll be doing a whole lot of saving. My tips are all going away in my Snow White jar that you have to smash to open. No cheeky maccies from my tips for me anymore. But, after this holiday I'm going to be using my money to start learning how to drive. I ordered my provisional license on the last day of 2016 and it arrived yesterday (eeeek). I'm so so scared about doing this, but I know it'll be worth it.
What are you looking forward to in 2017?
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2017 goals and a year in review

2016 was a pretty ... strange year. It was the first year that I've really got into politics, and I got up early to watch the final (heart wrenching) results of both Brexit and the US election. I still feel like I'm recoiling from these. My personal life was a bit hectic too. I moved house twice, with all three pets in tow, left the town I called home for the past few years and tried my hand at going fully freelance. The latter was a naive choice for six months of my life, but my mental health was simply too poor for me to be working at the time. 
2016 Mental health
In terms of mental health, I'm pretty proud of myself for this year. I managed to go through the whole of 2016 without self harming. This is the first time in so long that I've gone a whole year without it, so it really feels fab to be able to say that. Also, despite having six months off for my mental health, I got back into work, continued my freelance work and managed to not let my anxiety completely take over. I'm still working part time outside of the house, but it's definitely a step in the right direction. 
2016 Challenges
This year I really did push myself to the max. I tried skiing for the first time, and after a rocky start I totally fell in love with it. Hopefully I'll get to give it another go at the end of 2017! I have so many fears about injuring myself, trying new foods, meeting new people and going in a ski lift that I faced in this trip. I also went on a few more day trips this year, with the main ones being to Camden and Gloucester. 
2016 Blogging
My blog is something I really am truly happy with this year. I've made more posts than I ever have done before, and the difference in my photography between now and this time last year is a little startling. I set myself some big goals at the end of 2016. I wanted to reach 1K twitter followers, and I'm honestly so shocked to say that I've almost doubled that! Instagram was a little different to say the least. I hoped to reach 5K followers, but the algorithm, a change in style and being pretty inconsistent with posts has left me with just under 2000 followers. And finally, I managed to hit the big ol' 500 Bloglovin followers, but couldn't quite do the same with Facebook. This paragraph is more for myself than any of you, I'm not going to lie. I wrote a similar post to this at the end of 2015, and going back to read it was a great reminder to me of what my goals were. 
2016 top posts
I made some blog posts that I'm really pleased with too. Here are my top ten favourite blog posts of the year that I've written (in no particular order): 
Self harm and recovery: my story Productivity, being a #Girlboss and its toxicity to my mental health It's okay to say it's not okay Why I avoid being part of 'the blogging community' Loss: some waffly bullshit for Mr B Beginner's guide: using Pinterest 10 ways to improve your blog today How to create your own blogger media kit Cancer survival and its impact on mental health Why you need to switch to natural period products now
2017 Goals
Now it's time to set myself some goals. I don't think I've ever written down my New Year's resolutions before, so I'm SO grateful that Chloe popped a sheet for me to write them on in That Lame Company's Christmas #BoxofLame. This year I'm determined to kick my anxiety in the butt in terms of some things I've put off for so long because of it. I'm going to start to learn to drive. I actually applied for my provisional license (yep, I still don't have one of them because I've been putting off doing this for years) today, and I'm SO excited for it to come through in the post.

I'm pretty ashamedly awful at spending so I really want to save up £1000 during the year. This may seem like a puny amount to most people, but for me it really is a massive amount. As well as that, I want to do more travelling; go away with my sister, go on a weekend city break with my partner and do more trips in the UK. It'll be quite a challenge to manage saving with lots of travelling, but I'm determined to put saving first and be responsible with my money. 

2017 Blogging goals
Just like last year, I've also got some blog orientated resolutions. I'm determined to stop making content that I'm only half pleased with, or half-assed content that I've rushed to get out on time in order to keep to my schedule. Instead I'm going to go for quality over quantity, and that includes ensuring that I have photos that I'm genuinely happy with to go with every post. I'm hoping to hit 4000 twitter followers, 2,500 Instagram followers, 100 Youtube subscribers and 1000 Bloglovin followers. This are some massive goals for me, but I'm hoping that consistent work and good content will triumph over all the algorithms that have been holding so many of us back in 2016!
What are your goals for 2017?
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25 things I want to do before I turn 25

I turned 22 yesterday, and in the past couple of weeks I've been reflecting on all of the amazing things I've done as a 21 year old. Some I imagined doing, but others were so incomprehensibly not-me I couldn't have even dreamed up. I went skiing, graduated from my degree, started working freelance, went to Tenerife, had my sister living with me all summer, and so many other things that I'm super proud of. It's really made me think about what I want to achieve over the next couple of years, so here we are: my 25 things that I want to achieve before I turn 25.  
1.) Learn to drive
2.) Pay my parents back all the money they used to support me whilst I was at uni
3.) Settle down in a town
4.) Have an organised self-care routine that I stick to
5.) Travel to a different continent
6.) Volunteer in some way
7.) Own a whole shelf of tsum tsums
8.) Learn how to do winged eyeliner properly
9.) Find a career I love
10.) Frame my degree certificate
11.) Be living with someone I love
12.) Have enough savings to put down a payment on a flat or house
13.) Have enough money to go on an IKEA spending spree.
14.) Start relying more on homeopathic medicine.
15.) Maintain good relationships with all of my family members.
16.) Be able to emotionally and financially support my sister. 
17.) Have a pretty, organised desk space for my freelance/blogging work
18.) Learn some basic calligraphy
19.) Try kayaking and karate
20.) Get good enough at yoga to do the crow
21.) Still enjoy blogging
22.) Continue to improve my photography skills
23.) Learn to love myself
24.) Go to Disneyworld (Florida)
25.) Have developed my own sense of style
What would you have on your list?
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Hello New Year | 2016 Blogging Goals

I figured I'd round off the year with a selection of my favourite pictures from this years' posts. I've loved my year of blogging, and it's brought me so many opportunities, which is why I'm looking forward to it simply getting bigger and better in 2016. I'm sure all us bloggers around about now are thinking about what we hope will happen for us and our blogs in the coming year, so I thought I'd start a discussion with you all about our dreams. What do I want? Well, my main goal for this year is to effectively monetize my blog (in boring terms), aka I'd love to be able to go part time, with my blog making up the rest of my monthly paycheck. This would mean I could put more time into blog, pay more attention to my fitness, and spend more time with the little fluffs - Ted the bunny and Hammy & Jeff the dwarf hamsters. Plus, I could take even prettier photos to share with you all in my posts (hello extra daylight hours!) I would love to work with more brands in the coming year, especially beauty ones. Nourish ME is all about caring for yourself and I really love letting people know about new products that will help you nourish yourself, whether it be mentally or physically.  Finally, at the moment instagram is my most successful social media platform. I'd love to get to 5k followers in the next year (as I'm just over 1k at the moment). My twitter would ideally hit 1000 and my bloglovin and Facebook page at least 500.  What are your blogging goals in the coming year?

150 Followers Giveaway | New Years Resolutions & Looking Back

(This looks half empty, but it's not! Body butter always shifts to one side whenever you want it to just stay flat, urgh!)

Full Bloom Lavender Round Essential Body Kit (inc. flannel, bath cream, bath crystals) |

Soap and Glory 250ml The Righteous Butter |

Boots Extracts 50ml Cocoa Butter Body Butter |

LUSH Think Pink Bath Ballistic Bomb |

So as I've reached 150 followers, I've decided to offer you guys the chance to win these goodies as a token of my gratitude! I've really enjoyed creating and improving this blog over the past four or five months and am so looking forward to the next year of more improvements and blogging! Scroll down and you'll see how to enter - UK ONLY, sorry. I will be checking to make sure that you've actually done them!

I created this blog because I believe that what you eat, and the way you treat your body has an incredible impact on your mentality. I find that on days, or weeks, when I eat junk food and don't exercise I lose motivation for uni work, looking good, socialising, and focusing on general life admin (ugh) which I really ought to keep up with. Hence "Nourish ME": to nourish oneself, in my opinion, is to give your body the ability to perform well both physically and mentally. Thus, when I started clean eating I also developed a good skincare regime (which I will get round to blogging about one day, I swear!), regularly moisturising, and switching to products that were a lot less harsh for my skin and hair. Since then, my nails have been growing like crazy, and everyone keeps commenting on how long and thick my hair has gotten! 

So, this year I really want it to get bigger and better, and to keep the goals I set up when I started blogging. I think this is the first time that I've ever made any New Years resolutions, so here goes:

1.) Keep up with regular blogging, and make a list of new recipes!

2.) Go to the gym two times a week, and exercise at home on my new yoga mat on the other days - it really gives you a lot more energy to get on with other week.

3.) Actually keep up with the reading for the final half of the final year of my English Lit degree (this one makes me chuckle thinking about it)

4.) Tackle my problems rather than avoiding them. Work on my experience and endeavour to secure a job in publishing by Summer.

5.) Avoid dairy! Being intolerant to it helps, but boy do I let myself in for it sometimes out of lack of willpower/negligence for what's good for me.

6.) Meal prep - I am so bad at this, so at the end of a long uni day I always end up on the junk trail, but NO MORE. 

What are your New Years Resolutions?

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